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Old 03-15-2012, 06:48 AM
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Default another 408 thread.

I have been researching this for quite a while in hopes to one day build a 408. Paying my car of today (finally) and picked up a 6.0 already with a fresh .030 bore for dirt cheap. I also got the stock crank and rods basically free and in really good shape but I only want to put a short block together once so I have a few questions. (please spare the use search comments. I've already looked so much they run together)

I am on a budget so I can only really spend some cash one bottom or top end right now.
If I build the Stroker block I'll have to keep my 241s tila later date. But if I want to go ls3 to end down the line I don't want to have to buy new pistons with valve reliefs in them and pull it all out again. So now i'm stuck with a decision.

is it even possible to go ahead and buy the pistons with valve reliefs for ls3 heads and not need them right now?

Or just go flat top and stick with a cathedral head?

And since I am on a budget. What is the best bang for the buck quality wise for a fairly cheap price. I can not afford a high quality expensive crank. Buying a good reconditioned one is not a problem to me. Not to sound really cheap lol but other priorities come first.
Old 03-15-2012, 06:54 AM
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This is a n/a motor and I already have the basic bolt ons. Through an m6. Id like to reach as close to the 500 rwHP range a possible but I will sacrifice top end HP numbers for a lot of torque and grunt through the power band. I want to keep compression close to 11

These are some of the things I want out of my overall build if this helps


Just looking for a little experienced help and guidance. Thanks
Old 03-15-2012, 07:21 AM
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If you aren't stuck on buying the ls3 heads and later go with s great cathedral port head.... I am still running my original 241s on my 408. Ported and milled to get 57cc chambers, flat top pistons with -4cc valve reliefs to give me a total 12.5:1 compression and a 255/263 .624/.624 115 lsa cam, 60lb injectors. I've never had it on a dyno, but it is an absolute beast and spins to 8,000 rpms
Old 03-15-2012, 07:30 AM
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If you want budget crank, eagle makes a 4" one for a good price.

Also, you're going to need new pistons and rods if you're going with the 4" stroke. If you're staying with the stock stroke then the ones you have will work fine.
Old 03-15-2012, 07:34 AM
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How much money do you have to spend on this? You might have to wait and buy a few parts at a time. I would decide on what you want in the end, then for now build a rock solid bottom end and build the top end later...could even wait and run the stock cam for now and swap it out later
Old 03-15-2012, 02:17 PM
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Buying a few things at a time is probably what I will do. I know that I will need new rods and pistons also with a Stroker motor. I am not stuck on ls3 top end. I have a pretty good idea of what I want out of the build but when i'm starting from scratch I have so many options that its hard to make a final decision lol.

its one of those life changing decisions. It ranks up there with should I get married, should I have kids, what kind of heads I want to put on my car.....lol
Old 03-15-2012, 02:28 PM
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Lol hey if it makes you feel any better I've had my 408 for two years now and I'm still trying to decide what heads to go with.
Old 03-15-2012, 02:28 PM
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I'm about to leave right now and pay the last 4300 off on my car. No more 400 a month car note. Then its time to get busy planning.
Old 03-15-2012, 02:32 PM
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Mark. You have valve reliefs in your flat tops. Let's just say you went with bigger valves. Is there enough play in then to accommodate that or would you have to have them flight even more or buy different pistons? This is something I have not had any experience in. I get the basic idea behind it just not sure how that works
Old 03-15-2012, 02:33 PM
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Fly cut....damn predicted text
Old 03-15-2012, 02:34 PM
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Since the car runs now I'd buy a part here and there till you have what you need to assemble the new motor...you know how it is, you get what you pay for lol. Do what I did, spend money on a good crank, h-beam rods and forged pistons, that way your bottom end can take whatever you throw at it later....I wanted the option of throwing a big n2o **** on top of my motor, so It's built to take a 500 ****...will I ever put that much to it?...probably not, haven't even got a nitrous setup for it but I didn't want to build it twice.
Old 03-15-2012, 02:36 PM
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That is my plan in a nutshell




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